DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — It took one game for the Miami RedHawks to accomplish the one thing that eluded them last season, though they came close several times.

They finally knocked off a big-time, nonconference opponent Tuesday night when they rallied from an 11-point deficit in their season opener to beat the Xavier Musketeers, 59-57.

A Millett Hall crowd of 6,140, the largest in three years, watched Michael Bramos sink three free throws after being fouled behind the 3-point stripe with 6.2 seconds remaining. Xavier's Drew Lavender missed a short, floating jumper just before the buzzer.

Miami senior Tim Pollitz had game highs with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists, transfer Kenny Hayes sparkled in his Miami debut with 18 points, and Bramos finished with 15 points.

Derrick Brown scored 12 points, going 5-for-5 from the field, and also grabbed six rebounds for the Muskies, who fell to 1-1 overall.

Miami had played well against several nonleague teams last season, including Kentucky, Illinois and, in the NCAA tournament, Oregon.

"We came really close several times last year," Bramos said. "We just never got over the hump.

"We've got a tough nonleague schedule and we've got to ride with this non-league win over Xavier. This gives us a lot of confidence. Now we know we can compete."

Xavier head coach Sean Miller noted that the RedHawks' offense simply outplayed his defense in the second half after the Muskies had taken a 28-22 lead at the break.

"We didn't have an answer for (Pollitz) ... " Miller said. "In the second half Miami shot 55 percent ... and scored 38 points against our halfcourt defense. We have to be a better defensive team in the second half to win that game."